More elected officials Wednesday publicly demanded the immediate removal of the California Public Utilities Commission President for failing to conduct proper oversight of a faulty pipeline.
The San Mateo County Board of Supervisors joined the City of San Bruno, Assemblyman Jerry Hill and a local grassroots group saying that Michael Peevey “failed in his fundamental duty to protect” residents and the public interest.
In November 2010, a faulty weld on a natural gas pipeline caused an explosion that killed eight people, injured dozens more and destroyed San Bruno 38 homes.
The city council approved a resolution on Oct. 23 calling for the removal of the CPUC president.
The National Transportation Safety Board said the Commission failed to conduct proper oversight of the PG&E under Peevey.
In the investigation of whether PG&E should be fined for the devastating damage to the community, Peevey appointed himself to lead the inquiry.
The Board of Supervisors in a statement called Peevey’s mediation in the negotiations “a violation of public trust and contrary to reasonable and ethical standards of governance.”
“All Californians deserve an open and transparent process to hear and understand what led to the tragic explosion that engulfed a neighborhood,” said Supervisor Dave Pine, who initiatied the call for Peevey’s removal.
“By suspending public hearings and unilaterally attempting to appoint a mediator, President Peevey has undermined and clouded the validity of the CPUC’s critical regulatory function,” he added.
San Mateo County is currently seeking support from other counties in seeking Peevey’s removal as the commission’s president.
San Bruno resident Kathy DeRenzi was also at Wednesday’s hearing.
She told the Board that she ran for her life when a geyser of flame erupted in her neighborhood on the evening of Sept. 9, 2010, killing her neighbors and destroying the neighborhood.
De Renzi is gathering signatures on a petition demanding Peevey’s removal.
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